It seems impossible to escape the barrage of negative headlines littering the sports landscape these days. Everywhere you look there is turmoil that creates controversy.
In the past week, we have had the highly-anticipated NBA Finals overshadowed by accusations of wrongdoing by referees, a sexual harassment and racial lawsuit pending in NASCAR and the distraction caused by the antics of a superstar football player who prefers to be called Ocho Cinco.
With our favorite sports tainted by felons and malcontents, those seeking positive news have to search for it. A story about a softball game in Oregon in April shows this.
During a Division II college softball game between Western Oregon and Central Washington, a courageous display of sportsmanship occurred. Both teams fighting for a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament, the schools met on a Saturday afternoon for an important showdown that would determine each team's chances of advancing to the playoffs.
In the second inning of a scoreless game, Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky connected on a pitch and hit a three-run homer for her team. In the excitement of hitting her first career home run, Tucholsky forgot to touch first base and had to stop and go back. Her knee buckled under her as she stopped and she collapsed on the base path, unable to complete her trip around the bases. According to softball rules, a player who is assisted by her teammates while running the bases is considered out and a substitute runner would only be awarded a single.
Faced with the possibility of having her only career home run nullified by an injury, Tucholsky found aid from an unlikely source: her opponents. Central Washington players Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace asked the umpire if it was okay if they carried Tucholsky around the bases to complete her home run.
With no rule against opponent assistance in running the bases, the two proceeded to carry Tucholsky as she touched each base and was credited with a home run. Western Oregon, behind Tucholsky's home run, would win the contest 4-2.
This story is truly a testament to what sportsmanship is all about. The Central Washington players went out of their way to do what was right, even though it ultimately proved to cost them the game. The statistics won't reflect their actions in any special way but Tucholsky will never forget their genuine act of respect.
She tore her ACL on the play and her college career is finished with the home run standing as her last at bat.
The timing of this moment helped to at least momentarily put aside the distractions caused by baseball's steroid controversy, illegal negotiations with a college basketball player and the New England Patriots' Spygate debacle. This moment helped sports fans feel good for a change.
We need more of this in the world of sports. While the scoreboard shows the winner and loser, there should still be something more in the minds of athletes than just coming out on top.
I'd like to believe that all people who compete in sports hold within them a desire to do it honestly and humbly, respecting their opponents and the sports they play.
I hope that in the near future, the world of sports sees another moment that transcends the final score. Another positive moment will help erase the unnecessary negativity in other sports. And I hope that those who have created negative headlines will hear of another athlete's generosity, sportsmanship and respect and will find it in themselves to rectify the damage that has been created.
Maybe someday a story like the one between Western Oregon and Central Washington won't seem so uncommon after all.
- Patrick McHugh can be reached at
sports@nu-news.com.
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