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Would You Give Up A Win? I can't say that I'm the biggest sports fan or that I follow sports at all, however, I can tell you that I have read a remarkable story of sportsmanship that still has me amazed.
It has left me with the thought provoking question, "Would you give up a win?"
According to the AP, Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University did something she had never done, in high school or college: She cleared center field with a home run. But when she missed first base and started running back to tag it she collapsed with a knee injury. Sara crawled back to first base but couldn't move any more. It looked like she would lose her home run!
Then, members of the opposing softball team, Central Washington University, stunned spectators. Their first baseman Mallory Holtman, the career home run leader in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help Tucholsky run the bases.
The umpire said there was no rule against it.
So Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace put their arms under Tucholsky's legs, and she put her arms over their shoulders. The three headed around the bases, stopping to let Tucholsky touch each base with her good leg and Tulcholsky walked to victory.
"The only thing I remember is that Mallory asked me which leg was the one that hurt," Tucholsky said. "I told her it was my right leg and she said, 'OK, we're going to drop you down gently and you need to touch it with your left leg,' and I said 'OK, thank you very much."'
"We didn't know that she was a senior or that this was her first home run," Wallace said Wednesday. "That makes the story more touching than it was. We just wanted to help her."
Holtman said she and Wallace weren't thinking about the playoff spot that they gave up; they thought that others would do the same thing in similar circumstances.
"I hope I would do the same for her in the same situation," Tucholsky said.
Tucholsky said the entire Western Oregon team was in tears as the three of them reached home plate.
Central Washington coach Gary Frederick, a 14-year coaching veteran, said it was an "unbelievable" act of sportsmanship.
And so it was.
Of course, as with every other story where someone does something that strikes us, we must see if there is a lesson that can be brought down to our own personal level.
Perhaps the actions of the Central Washington girls should force us to honestly question ourselves, would we give up a win? Do we give up the win when it's for our spouse? Do we do it for a sibling? Would we do it for a friend? A stranger? Or as in the case of the soft ball game, would we give up a win for an opponent?
If we were all willing to give a positive answer to these questions the world would certainly be a kinder place. ---
Shea Hecht is a Rabbi and activist in the Jewish community. He can be reached at rabbishea@aol.com -------------------- Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.
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