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A lesson in being a good sportsman |
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Tuesday, 06 May 2008 |
By Joshua Keeran
Sports Editorr
In Webster’s New World College Dictionary, a sportsman is defined as a person who can take loss or defeat without complaint or victory without gloating, and who treats his opponents with fairness, generosity and courtesy.
If the dictionary listed examples of every definition, then Mallory Holtman’s name would appear below the word sportsman following the unselfish gesture she made toward an opposing player during a collegiate softball game back on April 26.
With the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title on the line and a subsequent trip to the NCAA Division II tournament at stake, Western Oregon University senior Sara Tucholsky stepped to the plate in the top of the second inning with two runners aboard and her team in a scoreless battle with Central Washington University.
What happened next was one of the greatest acts of sportsmanship I’ve ever heard or read. I just so happened to read about this incident online and then I saw the footage on several television networks.
Tucholsky, who entered the game with only three hits in her lasts 34 at-bats, did something she had never done before in all her years on the softball diamond — she left the yard.
Amidst her jubilation, Tucholsky forgot a basic part of the game that most of us who’ve played it can relate to — she missed stepping on first base.
At that point Tucholsky had two choices — keep going and hope the umpire didn’t notice she had missed the base or turn around and make it official.
Tucholsky decided her first-ever home run was worth a trip back to first base, but when she stopped to turn around, her right knee gave away and she fell to the ground in obvious pain.
After crawling back to first base, Western Oregon coach Pam Knox asked the umpire what could be done. Following a discussion, it was determined that in order to substitute a runner for Tucholsky, the two-run homer would have to be diminished to just a lonely two-run single.
One might ask why her teammates or coach didn’t help Tucholsky around the bases?
See SPORTSMAN, Page 3B
Well, had any teammate or coach touched Tucholsky, she would have been called out.
Just when it appeared Tucholsky’s only homer of her career would be erased from the official scorebook — Holtman — Central Washington’s first baseman, suddenly got an idea.
Holtman, the league’s all-time home run leader, knows first-hand just how special a jog around the bases feels following a home run. Apparently, she wasn’t about to let Tucholsky miss out on the experience of hitting her first and only long ball.
Despite everything at stake, Holtman did the unthinkable for some who are all about winning and dissing the importance of sportsmanship — she offered to assist the opponent around the bases.
With the crowd applauding and some in tears as told by those in attendance — Holtman — along with teammate Liz Wallace, picked up Tucholsky and carried her around the bases, stopping at each one and lowering Tucholsky enough so she could tap each bag with her left foot.
Tucholsky’s team went on to win the game 4-2, but what occurred during the game was something far more important than any victory.
As a sports journalist, I’ve covered my fair share of high school, college and professional games.
Far too often I’ve witnessed sportsmanship at its worst from on-the-field fighting, to players talking trash, to others thinking they are so much better than everyone else on the field that it makes you sick watching their antics.
I myself was raised to respect every one and as my love for playing sports grew, I learned to respect every game I was a part of and all those involved with it.
With that said, I for one don’t understand why some athletes have to act like buffoons on the field.
I’m also not naive. I know some spectators like the trash talking and fighting on the field, but I’d much rather see high schoolers, college athletes and professionals play the game with respect for others and just have fun on the field no matter the outcome because all that other crap gets old.
Although when it comes to professional athletes, I appreciate when they do take the game seriously since all of us pay bundles to watch them perform and because of us, they have no financial worries like the majority of us who pinch every cent we have.
My hope is that today’s youth, if not already tainted from all this lack of sportsmanship running rampant in sports, will read about Holtman and Tucholsky’s story and choose to practice good sportsmanship from here on out.
For those of you out there who make it a point to be a good sportsman, I commend your efforts and hope that when the time comes again, you will continue to put the bigger things in life ahead of wins and losses like Holtman did.
I would much rather be remembered for doing the right thing like Holtman did, then to be remembered as the self-centered jerk that no one in the crowd or on the opposing team could stand.
Footage of the memorable moment can be viewed on You Tube for those who haven’t seen it. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 May 2008 )
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