<p>This gave me chills, and hope for our future:</p>
<p>[ESPN</a> - Central Washington offers the ultimate act of sportsmanship - College Sports](<a href=“Wembanyama, Spurs to host Kuzma and the Wizards - ESPN”>Central Washington offers the ultimate act of sportsmanship - ESPN)</p>
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<p>A thread on the same topic was started by Northstarmom on April 30, 2008. It is located in the Parents Forum and is entitled, “Wonderful Example of College Sportsmanship.”</p>
<p>I expressed my unfavorable viewpoint of this event on that other thread, so I will not re-post my opinion here. However, since I posted to that other thread, I have done further research on the Tucholsky event, which has generated a great number of conflicting but overwhelmingly positive news reports. I have read many of these news reports. I have also combed through the NCAA 2008 Women’s Softball Rules and Interpretations and the NCAA Women’s Softball Umpires Manual to see which NCAA policies and rules would apply to Tucholsky’s situation. </p>
<p>My research revealed that the umpires and coaches involved in this situation apparently lacked NCAA mandated “comprehensive knowledge of current NCAA softball rules,” and therefore failed to appropriately apply Rule 8.5.3.2 (Injured-player substitutions) which states: “If an injury to a batter-runner or runner prevents her from proceeding to an awarded base, the ball is dead and substitution may be made. The substitute must legally touch all awarded or missed bases not previously touched.” My research also revealed that neither umpires nor coaches applied Rule 4.5 (Medical Personnel) which states in part, “If the injury to a student-athlete requires extensive treatment and she can be safely removed from the playing field, an eligible substitute shall replace the injured player and play shall be resumed. In the event of either a serious injury or an injury of unknown severity, the injured party should remain on the field until medical personnel can arrange for transportation that will not compromise the injury.” </p>
<p>The above-referenced NCAA rules are the two most pertinent to Tucholsky’s situation; however, a number of NCAA Sportsmanship and Code of Conduct policies and rules apply, as well. </p>
<p>My conclusion: Injured Tucholsky (reported to be in agonizing pain) was not required to crawl to first base, and she did not have to be bodily carried around the bases by opposing team players in order for her three-run homer to score. This event was an unnecessary public travesty. </p>
<p>Tucholsky’s opposition-assisted trip around the bases has been seized upon by the media as a laudable example of women’s “sportsmanship.” I thoroughly disagree for a number of reasons, and now, I can add umpire and coach ineptitude to those reasons.</p>