Tom Hanks' character Jimmy Dugan pronounced that truism in the great 1992 film A League of Their Own. The film highlights the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, that began play in the spring of 1943. Originally a softball league, the AAGPBL eventually moved to overhand pitching and smaller ball sizes to more closely identify with the word 'baseball' in its name.
I wasn't around in 1943 to watch these games so I only know about the league from the popular film directed by Penny Marshall. I have to tell you though, I still tear up watching it - it's a great film and loaded with talented performers. It's probably the last thing I watched in which I appreciate the performance of Rosie O'Donnell.
Yesterday, Western Oregon University and Central Washington University squared off in a contest between Great Northwest Athletic Conference teams seeking to secure a playoff spot. Sara Tucholsky of WOU took a Cinderella turn by hitting her very first home run - ever - in high school or college competition. Unfortunately for Sara, as she rounded first base, she missed the bag because she had glanced up to watch the ball clear the fence in center field. Turning to go back and tag the bag at first, her knee gave out.
Someone somewhere has probably said, "Rules is rules." In this case, the first base umpire informed the Wolves that if a pinch runner was used for Sara, her homer would be counted as a single. In an unbelievable turn of events, two players from Central Washington, Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace asked the ump if they could carry Sara around the bases. Apparently, there is no rule against the OPPOSING team carrying an injured player, so Mallory and Liz lifted a pain-wracked Tucholsky and helped her complete the required circuit of the bases. As they reached home plate, after gingerly stopping at 2nd and 3rd for Sara to touch the bag with her good left foot, a great cry was had by all.
There's no crying in baseball. But there is in softball and it followed the greatest example of courage, heart and sportsmanship I've heard of since
Eugenio Monti and the Italian bobsled team helped Canada win the 4-man bobsled team gold in the 1964 Winter Olympics at Innsbruck. If that wasn't enough, they followed up by helping to repair the damaged sled of Tony Nash
and Robin Dixon of Great Britain. Nash and Dixon took home the gold in the 2-man event.
Monti exemplified the ultimate in sportsmanship - he would not compete unless it was on even terms. When his competition - clearly better on the day - ran up against equipment problems, Monti and the Italian team did everything in their power to fix their opponent's sleds. In both events, the teams they helped took the gold and the Italians took the bronze.
Proving that being a good sport is its own reward,
Eugenio Monti and the Italian team took gold in 1968.
God bless Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, their coaches, parents and anyone else who had a hand in shaping their sporting mindset. Thank you ladies for reminding us of what sports is all about.
I will always be respectful in my opinions - but that doesn't mean I'm going to agree with everyone. In all that we do we should glorify the Lord and not make such a big deal of this transient world we live in. Mark 12:30-31:
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like it; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."
