When Sportsmanship and Passion Collide: Part 2

It was mentioned in the first part of this series that passion could be defined as “ardent affection; a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept.” We have all watched the ugly side of passion play out on the athletic field when failure to win the big game or make the clutch hit or snuff out an opponent’s rally led to poor sportsmanship. I don’t know about you, but I have had just about enough of television coverage that prowp-content/uploads dugout rampages by losing pitchers and after-the-whistle fisticuffs by 300 pound linemen. I even (gasp) saw a hockey player who knocked a guy out cold in a fight and then grand-standed about it (note: they played the highlight reel so many times I thought it was me that got sucker punched!). Are there no good stories out there that show positive expressions of passion on the sports field?

Just when you thought chivalry was lost in the shuffle of pent up emotions and win-at-all-costs coaching ethics, along comes the heartwarming story of a Division II women’s softball team and their compassionate treatment of an opposing player. Known more for its production of timothy hay in the fertile Kittitas Valley, Ellensburg, Washington can now lay claim to what many could say was the shot heard round the sportsmanship world. A sunny Saturday morning in April, 2008, served as the setting for a key match up between the hometown Central Washington University Wildcats and their rivals, the Western Oregon Wolves. What happened that day will not soon be forgotten.

After winning the opener of a double-header, 8-1, the Wolves were batting in a scoreless game in the top of the second inning. Part-time outfielder, Sara Tucholsky, mired in a season-long 3 for 34 slump, crushed the first home run of her career over the centre field fence. The 2 runners on base scored ahead of her but something happened as Sara rounded first base. She missed the bag. The 5’2” Tucholsky was not used to doing a home run trot and simply missed first base. As she turned to go and touch the base she wrenched her knee and had to crawl back to the bag. An astonished crowd looked on as the helpless player lay there, unable to receive any help from her teammates or trainers at the risk of being called out. Softball rules demand that she be untouched. If a pinch runner was to be put in, Sara would have been awarded only a single. It was at this crucial point, just as her coach was going to take her out and put in a pinch runner, effectively ending any chance of her hit being ruled a home run, that an amazing act of true sportsmanship took centre stage.

“Excuse me, would it be OK if we carried her around and she touched each bag?” It was the voice of Central Washington’s first baseman, Mallory Holtman, who was the holder of pretty much every offensive record on their team, including career home run leader. In a move almost unheard of for a rival team to offer, at the risk of losing the game and their chances to advance to the playoffs (which is what happened, as they lost the second game, 4-2), valour trumped victory. Together with the Wildcats’ shortstop, Liz Wallace, the disabled Tucholsky was carried around the bases and allowed to gently touch each base as they made this memorable home run trot. A thunderous standing ovation ushered the 3 girls on their historic journey around the bases and into the hearts of true sports fans everywhere. A few hundred thousand hits on YouTube and a bunch of Kleenex boxes later, we have the positive side of passion in sports making its indelible mark.

Jesus would have done this. So would the apostle Paul, Billy Graham, and Mother Teresa. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget Gary Frederick, Mallory Holtman’s coach at Central Washington University. When people wondered where such actions came from, Holtman was quick to point to the mentoring of Frederick. “Winning is not everything” she quoted Frederick. No, it certainly is not, Mallory. Now if we can just get that across to all players at all levels, from the rec leagues to the big leagues, then passion can stay in sports and keep us focused on the game. Jesus said it best when He said, “Do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Now, let’s imitate Mallory Holtman and go and do likewise!