TUNNEY-SIDE-OF-THE-STREET

#43 August 15, 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.

If you are a Los Angeles Angels' fan, the name Doug Eddings may not be on your Christmas card list. I know that he's not on Manager Mike Scioscia's. Doug was the umpire behind the plate in game 2 of the ALCS between the Angels and the Chicago White Sox. Doug called "Strike three" on Sox's A.J. Pierzynski who swung and missed. The pitch was low and "apparently" in the dirt.

The umpire signaled strike three, but because it was a swinging strike three the catcher must catch and hold the ball cleanly It . appeared on television replays that the Angels' catcher Josh Paul did catch it cleanly. However, A.J. took off for first base believing the ball had hit the ground, in which case it's technically called a "passed ball" and the catcher must tag the runner or throw to first.

Believing he caught the pitch, and it being the third out in the bottom of the tenth inning, the catcher rolled the ball out towards the mound thinking the inning was over. The batter ran to first and without a ball being thrown to throw him out, was safe. The next batter, Joe Crede, doubled and the runner (pinch runner Pablo Oruna) scored the winning run. White Sox 2, Angels 1, game over. Mike Scioscia edited his Christmas card list.

"Umpire's Blunder Brings About a Sad Ending" was the banner on page 5C of USA Today the following morning. Maybe. Since you and I saw the "replay" countless times on ESPN, we tend to believe the sportswriters. Television replays and in slow motion frame by frame, makes us all experts.

Since I have left the NFL field, I rarely make a "blunder" from my couch. I also have strong memories of live and real-time action on the field and know those "calls" are a lot tougher. Let's not be too quick to place blame. Who do we "blame", the catcher for assuming the play was over, or the umpire for not making a more definitive call?

However, the point I want to make is play every play until the whistle blows meaning stay focused until the play is officially declared over. As the great philosopher Yogi Berra has often said, "It ain't over 'till it's over".

Will you stay focused on what you are doing until the job is done?

Look for my new book
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

Copyright © 2003 Jim Tunney. All rights reserved.
You can visit Jim's website at http://www.jimtunney.com

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