Missed History and a Reputable Principle

By RICK VAN ARNAM

Bagram, Afghanistan

Dining facilities in Afghanistan are filled with sports fans with their eyes glued to flat screen televisions just as they would back home. And from these seats, counting the days until one goes home includes counting sporting events like the World Cup, Major League Baseball or following Lebron James’ odyssey from Cleveland to Miami. And by my count, there are seventy-three regular season baseball games remaining confirming my status as a both a sports fan and soldier anxious to return home.

As I have followed sports this summer, I have become more curious about the impact of the rules of a game and the regulations of a league and the impact both have on players and sports history. Maybe you have had similar thoughts throughout this summer as history has been both made and missed.

Detroit Tiger pitcher Armando Galarraga, for example, missed history on June 3rd when umpire John Joyce made a mistake on a call at first base with two outs in the ninth inning that otherwise would have completed one of baseball’s most difficult achievements. Instead of being one of twenty-one pitchers in the history of the game to toss a perfect game*, Galarraga became just another pitcher to throw a one-hitter – an accomplishment achieved a thousand times or more. If there was any consolation it could be found in the grace with which he handled it. Subjected to many interviews following the missed call, the sound bite now universally associated with his missed history is Galarraga’s statement that keeps things in perspective, “I know nobody’s perfect.” On the other side of Galarraga’s grace is matching humility in umpire Joyce’s acknowledgement that he screwed up. “It was the biggest call of my career," an emotional Joyce told reporters, "and I kicked it. I just cost that kid a perfect game." In the days after June 3rd, Galarraga and Joyce were like elegant dancers with one allowing space for forgiveness and the other humbly submitting. And when history records what really happened as a result of the missed call, it may have more to say about character and reputation than about the score or the skill of those involved.

The recently concluded World Cup provided plenty of officiating drama including a missed goal in the Round of Sixteen match between England and Germany. Both nations are historic contenders for the FIFA World Cup Trophy and this match was considered one of the premier contests in the tournament. With Germany leading 2 - 1 and the English pressuring a comeback late in the first half, a linesman missed a goal when a ball struck by one of England’s players ricocheted downward off the crossbar, hit clearly inside the goal line and spun backward to the German goalkeeper. Despite being in the proper position, the linesman missed it and play continued without interruption proving that Armando Galaragga’s comment that “nobody’s perfect” can apply to officials in any sport. Had the goal counted, the match would have been even at two likely changing the second half strategies for both clubs. Germany eventually won by a score of 4 – 1 before dropping their next match to the Netherlands who subsequently lost to Spain. Fortunately, Spain’s first World Cup Championship seems unaffected by the missed goal – unless perhaps you are a die-hard English fan.

Lastly, there was the Lebron James’ free agency circus. James, arguably the best player on the planet, spent his first seven years in the league with the Cleveland Cavaliers who play their home games not far from James’ hometown of Akron. Lebron’s decision to leave his home state for the Miami Heat was guided by NBA rules which set a salary cap designed to give every team the same opportunity to sign the best available players. These rules and his personal decision process created a winner-take-all sweepstakes that attracted paparazzi and ESPN in the prime time for the official announcement. Joining James in Miami are two of the NBA’s best – Chris Bosh, formerly of the Toronto Raptors, and Dwayne Wade who re-signed with the Heat – the only team for which he has ever played. All three took less money to be on the same roster sparking reaction ranging from accusatory to mean. Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban, for example, suggested that the players involved, the Miami Heat or all had done something unethical. Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, wrote an open letter to Cavalier fans harshly criticizing James. His letter drew a fine of $100,000 from the NBA based on another rule meant to shape off court conduct.

In this last example, only time will tell if James’ decision was right or wrong. And even with time, it likely depends on your definition of right and wrong in how you make the call. Aside from the statistics, records and championships the three might compile, what will be revealing is how the three handle the decision that each has made. How they handle their decision will require each to lean on their developing character and not on the rules of the game or rules the league. Because it is the former, not the latter that will cement their reputation with those who love sports and those who love to hate sports.

And that leads to a key nugget, one of twelve reputable principles I am crafting especially for athletes, that I observed from a summer spent watching sports to help pass time until I can go home. Officials can rule the play on the field and leagues can rule off field conduct, but neither can be held accountable for a player’s reputation. A player’s reputation is ultimately accountable to his or her character.

I don’t know Armando Galarraga, but I really admired how he handled an unfortunate call that went against him. Even during the summer in which he missed a perfect game, he has pitched in the majors and in the minors with flashes of brilliance and streaks of mediocrity. Maybe it is that roller coaster ride, unlike the super-stardom status applied to World Cup players and Lebron James, which led to Galarraga’s instinctive response that, “Nobody is perfect.” But while his response resonates well to reflect on his being, it also reminds us that character is more important than the balls and strikes called against us in our daily work.

* There have only been twenty perfect games thrown in the history of Major League Baseball.

RVA


Author’s Note

For the record, I hoped that Lebron James stayed in Cleveland. I believe it would have been a good thing for the city and the Cleveland fans, who likely and generally speaking will remain always faithful to the Cavs, to see Lebron mature as a player, teammate and businessman finding a way to bring a championship, or simply the character of a champion, to the shores of Lake Erie.