<p>PORTLAND, Ore. AP - With two runners on base and a strike against her, Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University uncorked her best swing and did something she had never done, in high school or college. Her first home run cleared the center-field fence.</p>
<p>But it appeared to be the shortest of dreams come true when she missed first base, started back to tag it and collapsed with a knee injury.</p>
<p>She crawled back to first but could do no more. The first-base coach said she would be called out if her teammates tried to help her. Or, the umpire said, a pinch runner could be called in, and the homer would count as a single.</p>
<p>Wow! What a tribute to a group of young ladies who have know what sportmanship is all about. They should be commended for their empathy, kindness, compassion and love for the game. Their coach, parents and school should be proud.</p>
<p>Mallory Holtman, the opposing first baseman, was a superb player who knew the rules. She knew that the injured player’s coach and teammates could not touch her or aid her in any way. However, she also knew that an opposing player could lend a hand and she kept asking if she could help Sara until someone listened to her. Guys teams never would have done this. That’s the consensus I’ve heard. But you know what? It was a legitimate home run. It cleared the fence. It’s not like the ball just got through the outfielders and then it was just a matter of if she could outrun the ball. This was a “real” homerun and should have counted under any circumstances. The Central Washington players understood that and exhibited the highest levels of sportsmanship.</p>
<p>momof3sons - you are correct in stating that guys teams never would have done this. And while I greatly admire the women of Central Washington for their acts, I am not sure it is such a bad thing that guys teams would act differently. Athletics are what they are - just games and contests - and bad luck (including bad calls by referees or umpires) is part of the games, so to speak. And my attitude is not meant to be cynical, but rather to put sports in the proper perspective.</p>
<p>All I could think about was I hope she didn’t tear her ACL, female athletes can be prone to knee injuries and they are painful ( so I have observed, not experienced)
What a great opportunity to think outside the box.
:)</p>
<p>I want to share this with my kids at the dinner table tonight, but I choke up too much to be able to read it aloud - guess I’ll gave to photocopy it for them. It’s said that one of the greatest secrets of success is going from defeat to defeat with no apparent loss of enthusiasm for the next endeavor. One of the great lessons that sports teach is that there’s no point in getting too far down over today’s loss or too satisfied with tomorrow’s victory - there are bigger things in the long run. It’s pretty clear that Mallory Holtman has learned that lesson remarkably well, which makes her the epitome of a winner.</p>
<p>Crying? Giggling? Generosity? Moment of grace? Pardon me while I vomit.</p>
<p>I am appalled by this article. This is not an example of sportsmanship but of defeatism This is a perfect example of the passive, “collaborative,” traditionally female socialization crammed down many girls’ throats from the day they are born. This is a perfect example of the touchy-feely “winning isn’t everything” bunk (AKA “character education”) crammed down the throats of America’s children, teens, and young adults, regardless of gender. This is a perfect example of the reason America’s females (and a skyrocketing number of America’s males) are not only considered “second-class citizens,” but are quickly becoming second-class citizens of The Real World.</p>
<p>Sports is a microcosm of Life. Sports is about hard and fair competition. It is about winning and losing. It is about victory and defeat. It is not about individuals or teams accepting unfair and/or undeserved victory or defeat under any circumstances, no matter how untimely, unfortunate, or heart-wrenching. </p>
<p>Sara Tucholsky’s injury was untimely, unfortunate, and heart-wrenching. That’s Sports. That’s Life. </p>
<p>Had I been Western Oregon’s coach, I would have demonstrated genuine sportsmanship by refusing to allow my team to accept an unfair and undeserved victory. Had I been Central Washington’s coach, I would demonstrated genuine sportsmanship by refusing to allow my team to accept an unfair and undeserved defeat; I would have forbidden my players to touch the injured Tucholsky, benched insubordinate players for the rest of the season, and seen to it that those insubordinate players never played for me again. </p>
<p>Both Western Oregon and Central Washington exploited a loophole in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s softball rules which resulted in both teams becoming fellow losers “wrapped in a bond of good feeling.” That rules loophole had better be closed ASAP so that this sort of non-sportsmanlike conduct never happens again.</p>
<p>Actually, the only similar situation that I’ve seen was with guys - high school boys’ cross-country, a runner collapsed on the course and another runner (from a different team) stopped to help him.</p>
<p>Emeraldk, yeah, the ACL was my first thought too. D popped hers several years ago (at a tournament, 3000 miles away from home :eek:) and the surgery + months of rehab were all pretty agonizing. </p>
<p>TimeCruncher, your comment is pretty puzzling. </p>
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<p>I don’t understand why you think the last statement is incompatible with the rest. Sports at its best is about character as well as pure physical competition, no? </p>
<p>Also, aren’t you contradicting yourself? Just to take a single very commonplace example, bad calls happen, and they often do lead to unfair victories or defeats, and players had better be able to deal - except not? You’ve really lost me.</p>
<p>Also, I’m baffled by why you think any kind of character education, whether you believe in it or not, should be delivered differently to kids, depending on their gender? </p>
<p>TimeCruncher - thank you for taking the time to point out an opposing point of view. I forget at times like these that there are people who live in a much harder, less forgiving, less gracious world. </p>
<p>If I read the article correctly, the winning team won 4-2. The girl who hit the HR batted in two ahead of herself. So the team would have won 3-2, instead of 4-2. Unless the coach did as you suggest, and allowed the girl to attempt to crawl slowly and painfully around the bases. She may have done so, may have succeeded, and may have even been able to do it without further damage to her leg. </p>
<p>These girls took the high road. And I don’t see that they gave up all that much to do so. What is remarkable is that they were able to see another human being who needed help, and not just “an opponent.” So much of the world is we vs. they, or worse, me vs. you. Nice to see “we” wihtout “they” once in awhile. What is sad is that so many would take your road - no help for anyone else, whether or not it directly affects the helper.</p>
<p>To emeraldkity4: I have reported your (personal attack) Post #13 to administrators as a “Problem Post” due to your youtube link (in violation of CC rules).</p>
<p>To HarrietMWelsch: My Post #12 was straightforward, unambiguous, and thoroughly understandable. I don’t think you are “puzzled,” “lost,” or “baffled” by my statements. I do think you disagree with me.</p>
<p>To binx: I live in the Real World, and I am willing to accept that fact. According to the news article cited by the OP, “Then, members of the Central Washington University softball team stunned spectators by carrying Tucholsky around the bases Saturday so the three-run homer would count–an act that contributed to their own elimination from the playoffs.…” For Central Washington, the “high road” led to self-defeat. Wonderful? Sportsmanlike? Admirable? Not in my book.</p>
<p>Timecruncher - as a basketball coach, teacher and dad who wants my kids to play hard and try to win, I can honestly say you embarrassed yourself with your silly responce. My teams play hard, very hard. But at no time, would I ever let them lose sight of the bigger picture in life. This was exactly what is good about sports. Far after this game was over, both teams ended up as winners. You have lost sight of why we go out on the court, play hard, often bleed, but never ever win at any cost. These young ladies are the true winners in every way. God Bless athletes like this!</p>
<p>Timecruncher, I most certainly do disagree with you, but you’re mistaken about whether I was being arch or sarcastic in saying I was puzzled.</p>
<p>I really don’t get what you mean to say. Does your stance apply to every game and every circumstance? Suppose your team won on a call that was clearly wrong. Not a judgment call, or a call bcs of poor visibility, but just plain wrong. Everyone saw it and agreed, including the opposing coach. But you got the win. </p>
<p>Are you telling us you would refuse it? If not, and even if so, how then how do you reconcile these two claims:</p>
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<p>With this:</p>
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<p>Is it just a typo? Did you mean to say, the first time, that it IS about accepting unfair and/or undeserved victory? </p>
<p>I’d still disagree with you, but at least I’d have a better idea of what you’re actually trying to say.</p>
<p>Also, how are you liking the fact that despite your opening a post with a line containing this,
, people are still responding to you civilly? Must be all that touchy-feely bunk we’ve had crammed down our throats.</p>