TUNNEY-SIDE-OF-THE-STREET

#42 October 17 2005

Welcome to this week's message from the Tunney-Side-Of-The-Street. You are encouraged to share this with fellow workers, family and friends.

The physically challenged athletes encounter unusual obstacles in their efforts to compete on the playing field. Far too often those in charge of such games invoke a "must play by the rules" standard that puts even more challenges in the path of these athletes.

As a supporter of the Special Olympics for more than 30 years, I am aware of some of the challenges these disabled athletes must face. Just getting dressed and brushing your teeth in the morning - usually a simple task - presents demands that most of us casually dismiss.

So when I read of 17-year old Bobby Martin, born without legs - let me say that again - born without legs - who plays on his high school football team as nose guard on defense and on punt coverage by running on his hands as fast as others run on their legs, I was impressed! Then I learned that before a game recently, the referee approached Bobby's coach and said, "Bobby can't play because he is not wearing shoes. The rulebook says, 'A player must wear shoes, knee pads or thigh pads'. That's the rule!"

Bobby's coach just stared at the referee then said, "But he doesn't have any legs! How can he wear shoes or pads?" Bobby had already passed his physical and was cleared by the doctors to play. Bobby's not a freak show, he bowls, dances, does flips and cart wheels, skateboards and is well-liked by his classmates. Ultimately, the high school athletic association got involved and allowed Bobby to play - as is!

A similar case developed at a high school in my community where a Down Syndrome 19-year old wanted to play on the varsity football team. He wasn't a starting player; he just wanted to be on the team . However, at 19 he was beyond the age requirement mostly because he had to do remedial work and was held back earlier on in school. Finally the high school association stepped up to allow him the opportunity to play.

I encountered an unusual situation like that with the New Orleans Saints Field Goal Kicker, Tom Dempsey. On November 8, 1970, Tom set the NFL Field Goal Record - 63-yards from scrimmage that won the game against the Detroit Lions The 63-yard record has since been tied, but never exceeded. Tom was born with a withered arm and a deformed foot. His foot stopped at about the place of a normal arch. It was his right foot - his kicking foot! Opposing coaches complained, "Dempsey must wear a regulation shoe the rule book says". Actually, it was a piece of leather over the place where his foot stopped. I responded, "Dempsey isn't wearing a regular shoe, 'cause he doesn't have a regular foot!"

Will you allow a reasonable amount of consideration for those who face irregular challenges?

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It's the Will, Not the Skill
Principles and philosophies of success

For more information about Jim Tunney, go to www.jimtunney.com

ARTICLE TAGLINE FOR JIM TUNNEY, Ed.D., CSP, CPAE

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