Schools are back and so are sports!

Posted on September 5, 2022 by Jim Tunney Ed.D
On the TunneySide of Sports
September 5, 2022 #916
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After further review… For more than 40 years I’ve looked forward to this time of year as schools were starting after a long — sometimes it seemed short — hot southern California summer and that meant football season and Friday night lights were back. After graduating from Occidental College and beginning a high school teaching career, I began a football officiating career as well which concluded in 1991 when I retired from the NFL. When I started, I never thought of professional football, let alone college officiating. For me, high school officiating was exciting and financially rewarding - even though it was low-paying. ($12.50 per game).

Today, every week in our local newspaper, yes - we still have those, there are high school football results as well as other high school sports scores. I am sure in your community it’s the same. Unfortunately, following these scores is an article titled “Officials Needed.” NASO (National Association of Sports Officials) reports that this is happening in most communities in our country. The reasons given are “low pay” and “abuse of the officials.” Understandable but not acceptable.

Being in the school business as a teacher/coach as well as a principal, I understood that the officials’ paychecks came from the school’s budget. That money had to be raised from somewhere. There were not many “donations” from community organizations — especially in the inner-city where I was teaching. Also, we had to pay 4 officials for football games each week as well as junior varsity and lower-level games. Today the pay, as well as the officiating crews are larger – 6 officials (and more like $60-75 per official) The complaint from officials on low pay is that they find other ways to supplement ones pay.

The abuse issue is understandable as society is much different in today’s world than in the 1950s and 1960s. I don’t think that needs explanation since we see on our nightly news how lack of respect for authority has dissipated in today’s times. Further, it is not just fan disrespect of game officials but also disrespect from coaches and game personnel. Unfortunately, it is widely known that disrespect of officials happens from school personnel and not just fans. There has always been some of that but far more today than ever before. A security force today is needed for everyone’s safety.

Sports is a great teacher of respect. Coaches and parents can get respect for authority across perhaps better than anywhere else– and they do. I want to leave you with the thought that most do. It’s only a few exceptions that seem to fail in this regard.

Will you “stand tall” with your moral compass to enforce respect for authority?

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Jim’s Bobblehead is still available for $30. He has added one of his books (your choice – you pick one from his website www.jimtunney.com) at no extra charge.

Shop here.

To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com or email [email protected].

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Baseball’s Necessary Changes?

Posted on August 29, 2022 by Jim Tunney Ed.D
On the TunneySide of Sports
August 29, 2022 #915
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After further review… Some of Major League Baseball’s rules are confusing: like the pitcher and the use of him as the designated hitter. You can Google that the starting pitcher is also the designated hitter and then see what happens when that starting pitcher is replaced but can continue as the designated hitter. The manager (that’s what baseball calls the head coach) must list 10 players, not nine, when he presents his lineup at the start of the game, if the said manager, is planning that move. For many years it was only the American League that used the designated hitter to step in for their pitcher. Now both leagues use the designated hitter. There are recent new rules as to how often a team can change pitchers. Oh, my!

In 2023 MLB will prohibit the infield shifts making all infielders play in their normal positions, The purpose of that is to open the hitting and thus have more scoring.

The expansion of the pitching clock debate is not yet settled since it is negotiable between MLB management and the MLBPA. This is an attempt to speed up the game. The MLB tests in the minor leagues showed a decrease in the time of the games. When the step-off or pick-off attempts were limited to two, the runners attempted more base stealing which eventually led to more scoring.

It appears that PitchCom will be coming to MLB in 2023. PitchCom is a wireless communication system allowing the catcher to request pitches without using visible signals. The pitcher, shortstop, second baseman, and centerfielder will have such hearing devices. All in the name of stopping sign-stealing. As it is in other sports with the replay system, MLB has that too, the powers-that-be are trying to get a game that is not perfect. Hmm!

Just last week a San Francisco vs. Colorado game was decided when replay ruled a runner had, indeed, been tagged out when the third base umpire ruled him safe on a close play. “Game over,” said the umpire.

Will you agree that MLB needs to make changes to its game and if so what changes?

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Jim’s Bobblehead is still available for $30. He has added one of his books (your choice – you pick one from his website www.jimtunney.com) at no extra charge.

Shop here.

To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com or email [email protected].

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And Bring Your Playbook!

Posted on August 21, 2022 by Jim Tunney Ed.D
On the TunneySide of Sports
August 22, 2022 #914
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After further review… “Coach wants to see you … and bring your playbook.”

As the NFL nears the end of its 2022 pre-season, fans can hardly wait for the regular season to start. The real games start when the teams play their “first-string” players. For the preseason most every team has played its reserve players so as not to get their regular players injured. They call it the championship season since preseason games don’t count toward the playoffs.

While that system is OK for the regulars (those players in the high salary brackets) the fans aren’t thrilled that the cost of the tickets is still high and they are watching their team play with players who will be “cut” when preseason ends. You see, each team brings 100-plus players into their training camps so that during the preseason the coaches can evaluate them for a spot on their regular roster. That’s what fans are seeing in the preseason. Coaches then begin to cut those they can’t keep.

“Coach wants to see you … and bring your playbook.” That’s the opening line from an assistant coach who is sent to deliver the message to a player about to lose his job. That pause is because that coach hates to deliver the bad news. When that “knock-on-the-door” comes as preseason ends and, for some, even sooner, it’s a most difficult time for all concerned. It means you’re fired! For players on the roster bubble, it’s tough.

Have you ever been fired? If you haven’t, let me tell you it’s a very trying experience. Imagine you are a standout high school and college player and have dreams/aspirations of playing professional football and now you get the ”knock on your door.” Your heart is in your throat and knots in your stomach. Your first thought is “What do I do now?”

What about your head coach who has to give you the bad news? Some coaches may appear cavalier about it as if you should have expected it. Most coaches understand this kind of news is a real heart-breaker and are most considerate about your future. Herm Edwards, who was the head coach of the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, said it’s the most difficult part of his job. He took time and counseled each player he had to cut. He assured each one they had a future, while it may not be with his team or even in pro football. He emphasized that you should believe in your abilities and something will open up.

Will you build confidence in those you may have to fire?

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Jim’s Bobblehead is still available for $30. He has added one of his books (your choice – you pick one from his website www.jimtunney.com) at no extra charge.

Shop here.

To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com or email [email protected].

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