Sometimes, sportsmanship does cost…

Often, we are confronted with superstar (and lesser beings) athletes acting badly.  They can be extremely self absorbed, selfish from being so pampared ("hey, it seems like the world revolves around me, so it must be true!").

THIS is a story of athletes upholding true sportsmanship even when it may cost them – big time:

With the game scoreless and two runners on base, Tucholsky had given Western Oregon the lead in an important game.

But as she rounded the bases, she collapsed with a knee injury.

For the home run to count, Tucholsky needed to make it to home plate and touch every base along the way. She also couldn’t be assisted by players from her own team; otherwise, she would be considered out and the home run would not count.

Two players from Central Washington unexpectedly picked up Tucholsky and carried her around the bases, helping her touch each bag to complete the three-run homer.

The home run turned out to be the game winner.

"That game actually meant something. We’re both trying to go regionals," Tucholsky said. "She basically gave me another run; otherwise, my home run wouldn’t have counted. In a very close game like that, they did an amazing thing."

[snip]

She said she’s glad Central Washington is receiving credit for helping with her home run trot. Her story has appeared in the New York Times and on ESPN.com.

"I’m glad to get this story out because it is an awesome thing they did for me," Tucholsky said.

And the ‘Grok is happy to do so!   How often do you hear of people, when important things are on the line, work against their own self-interests?  Sometimes on an individual basis, but on a team?  The actions of those two players may have put their team’s season on the line – there could be bad feelings amongst their team mates for them having possibly "thrown away the season".

Yet, the display of sportmanship shown by these two young ladies (and they have certainly earned that title) has to account for much in this time of "out for number one" style society.

Brava, ladies!