TUNNEY-SIDE-OF-THE-STREET

#96 October 30 2006
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.

After further review -

That phrase makes more sense after watching game two of the 2006 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers. In that game Tigers' pitcher Kenny Rogers was discovered "doctoring" the ball. Rogers, was not only the winning pitcher (Tigers 3, Cardinals 1), but also the oldest pitcher ever to win a World Series game.

The reason "after further review" is so important is that during the FOX telecast someone in the Cardinals' clubhouse saw "something on Rogers' pitching (left) hand", which was then reported to Cardinals' Manager Tony LaRussa who alerted the umpires. The umpiring crew of six huddled along with the MLB Supervisor Steve Palermo. Home plate umpire Alfonso Marquiz then confronted Rogers to remove this "dirt or whatever was adhering to his left thumb." Rogers, as requested, wiped off the mud - or was it pine tar? TV production people researched videos from Rogers' previous post-season games which showed that same dark spots on his left thumb. Former Major League pitcher, Gaylord Perry, latter commented Rogers should use, "Pine tar from North Carolina - a clean pine tar, and it doesn't show up." "Dirt", "pine tar" or whatever substance pitchers use is down right illegal, and yes, even that "clean pine tar". These kinds of things have happened before. The role of the umpires is to keep the game fair by enforcing the rules. During my 31 years as an NFL referee, I've had to do the same. The Oakland Raiders were guilty of their receivers using "stickem" to help them catch the ball. It is interesting to note that Jerry Rice, who broke all NFL receiving records, never used "stickem" or any other substance. He didn't need anything but his God-given talent.

Other NFL teams would put Vaseline on the offensive linemans' jerseys to prevent defensive lineman from being able to legally grab a blocker in their attempt to get to the passer or runner.

I am NOT advocating using videos to rule on these kinds infractions. Game officials are competent to deal with that. What I am concerned with is that major league players (NFL, NBA, NHL MLB) think they need to cheat in order to win. I realize the enormous pressure they are under to win. But they are in the major league because they have better talent than anyone else. They do not need to "cheat" nor use illegal tactics to win.

The question I am raising: Is winning-at-any-cost more important than flaunting the integrity of the game? This applies at all levels - from kids taking a test in school to the "smartest guys in the room" who ran Enron. Will you keep integrity first and foremost?

Look for my book
It's the Will, Not the Skill
Principles and philosophies of success
For more information about Jim Tunney, go to www.jimtunney.com
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http://tunney-side-of-the-street.blogspot.com

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

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